AMONG my strongest beliefs is that most Governments don’t like democracy.

And I’m not talking dictatorships or state tyrannies here. It is “democratic” governments that are in my sights.

Of course, they pay lip service, often more, to democracy. Trumpeting their own democratic character, they speak as though their dearest wish is for more democracy around the world. To that end they will support any measure short of warfare and sometimes even that.

And yet, in power, democratic governments very often deny democracy. They bury bad news. They say one thing but do another. Or they say that one thing so carefully that, under close scrutiny, it turns out not to mean what it seemed. They have an agenda they are determined to pursue regardless of the public.

We shouldn’t be surprised. Ever since Magna Carta virtually all our freedoms have had to be wrenched from those in charge. “Democratic” governments devote much energy to frustrating democracy.

Probably no better or worse than any of its predecessors, our present Government amply demonstrates this hostility. Several examples are current.

First, mobile phone masts up to 25 metres (82ft) high, much taller than the current standard of 15 metres, are to be allowed, even in National Parks, without planning permission. Community protests have impeded a Government drive for more masts, so the community must be bypassed.

The same will almost certainly become true of fracking. It will go ahead however dense the ‘anti’ banners or protest rallies.

Meanwhile, the Government decrees that the governing bodies of academy schools, destined to be every school, need not include parents, the very people with the closest interest. As the NUT says: “Voices of parents and the local community are being silenced by a Government that does not believe in proper democratic accountability of our schools.”

Even worse are Government plans to impose appointees of its own on to the BBC’s new governing board. A clearer challenge to the independence that is the bedrock of the BBC could hardly be conceived.

As someone once warned, “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance”. And why would eternal vigilance be necessary unless what I said at the head of this column is true, that even democratic governments don’t really believe in democracy? We have to maintain it ourselves.

ANOTHER engagement prevented me from seeing Flying Scotsman on my local patch at Battersby station. I’m told there were “at least 1,000 people there… Battersby has never been as busy”.

No matter, my wife and I caught up with the legendary loco at Goathland a few days later. “Caught up” is accurate, for the express engine was travelling at little more than jogging speed. Respect and admiration taken for granted, it has to be said that Flying Scotsman in motion really needs to be seen, well, flying. Mrs M wasn’t at all impressed.

“Nigel Gresley looks much nicer,” she remarked.

The great loco was travelling (shuffling?) backwards. It’s surprising the Moors Railway isn’t yet able to runs its locos frontwards in both directions.